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Friday, August 3, 2012

Olympic Motivation - The Ultimate Fighter

In our business and personal lives, we can find motivation
from by people who overcome great difficulties to succeed. This 5 part series
is focused on Olympic athletes who have endured injury, but persevered; facing
their pain and not letting it deter them from their goals. This story focuses
on a battle to win/survive that embodies the Olympic spirit.

The Ultimate Fighter

Perhaps the most dramatic, and anticipated moment of the Olympic
Opening Ceremony is the arrival of the Olympic flame and the lighting of the
Olympic flame. And perhaps the most emotional and inspiring arrival/lighting
occurred in 1996 in Atlanta.

For the Atlanta Olympics, the torch arrived in the United
States 84 days before the start of the games (together with the 16 days of
competition it will add up to a symbolic 100 days) and traveled more than
16,000 miles.An estimated 3.5 billion
people around the world, along with the assembled athletes watched the arrival
of the flame, curious who the final torch bearer would be.

The final runner, four-time discus gold-medal winner Al
Oerter, arrives at the stadium and ignites the torch held by three-time
heavyweight world champion boxer Evander Holyfield who entersthe stadium and is joined by Greek runner
Voula Patoulidou and the two of them carry the torch around the stadium track
and pass the torch to US swimmer Janet Evans.

As Beethoven`s "Ode to Joy" is played Evans takes her
lap around the track towards the long ramp leading up to the top of the
stadium. The cheers from the capacity crowd crescendo.

All eyes are on Evans as she climbs the ramp. Then, at the
top of the stadium they are treated to a surprise. At the top of the ramp is
"The Greatest", the incomparable Muhammad Ali.

The crowd gasps and then joins together in a tumultuous roar.

The heavyweight boxing gold medalist at the 1960 Olympics in
Rome and regarded by many to be the greatest professional heavyweight boxing
champion of all time, Ali is one of the most recognizable sports figures worldwide.

Evans touches her torch to Ali`s, igniting it.

Ali holds the Olympic torch unsteadily in his right hand
while his left shakes uncontrollably with the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
He raises the flame and is met with supportive cheers from the elated audience.

Watching Muhammad Ali proudly hold the Olympic torch, despite his
crippling ailment, stands as a great moment in sport, Olympics and beyond. The
world was inspired by a man recognized as a great fighter during his boxing
days as he continued to fight, this time his crippling ailment.

A Sports Illustrated picture of the scene was entitled:
"The greatest start to an Olympics."

US President Bill Clinton, who was there to open the Olympic
Games said, “That took a sackful of guts...and it's taken a lot of courage to
continue to go out, to be seen...he wasn't self-conscious. He's something
special.”

The emotional and inspirational moment of Muhammad Ali
lighting the stadium cauldron to open the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games has become
an iconic image in Olympic history.

For more Olympic motivation and inspiration, pick up a FREE
copy of the eBook “Olympic Gold” Click Here -
no registration, no opt-in, no payment.